title: Circulating angiogenic biomolecules at rest and in response to upper-limb exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) show structural and functional vascular maladaptations and muscle loss in their lower limbs. Angiogenic biomolecules play important roles in physiological and pathological angiogenesis, and are implicated in the maintenance of muscle mass. This study examined the responses of angiogenic molecules during upper-limb aerobic exercise in patients with SCI and in able-bodied (AB) individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight SCI patients with thoracic lesions (T6-T12, ASIA A) and eight AB individuals performed an arm-cranking exercise for 30 minutes at 60% of their VO2max. Plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A165), VEGF receptor 1 (sVEGFr-1), VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFr-2), metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and endostatin were measured at rest, after exercise, and at 1.5 and 3.0 hours during recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two-way analysis of variance showed non-significant main effects of "group" and significant main effects of "time/exercise" for all angiogenic biomolecules examined (P < 0.01-0.001). The arm-cranking exercise significantly increased plasma concentrations of VEGF, sVEGFr-1, sVEGFr-2, MMP-2, and endostatin in both groups (P < 0.001-0.01). The magnitude of the increase was similar in both patients with SCI and AB individuals, as shown by the non-significant group × time interaction for all angiogenic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upper-limb exercise (arm-cranking for 30 minutes at 60% of VO2max) is a sufficient stimulus to trigger a coordinated circulating angiogenic response in patients with SCI. The response of angiogenic molecules to upper-limb aerobic exercise in SCI appears relatively similar to that observed in AB individuals.
authors.forename: Angelo V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Vasiliadis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafeiridis
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dipla
authors.forename: Nikiforos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galanis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chatzidimitriou
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyparos
authors.forename: Michalis G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Ioannis S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Vrabas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012146:Rest; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins
keywords: Angiogenesis; Arm exercise; Endostatin; Exercise; Metalloproteinase; Spinal cord injury; Vascular endothelial growth factor